An inspirational 14-year-old from Whitehall has beaten the odds to win three gold medals in the world transplant games.

Less than three years ago Christopher Flossman was in hospital recovering from his second kidney transplant.

Despite spending most of his young life in and out of hospital, his determination and love for swimming has led him to the top of the podium at the games held on Australia's Gold Coast.

Yesterday he celebrated winning the 50m breaststroke, 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly watched by a crowd of more than 1,000 international competitors.

His mother, Debbie, 42, said: "The British team have done very well and seemed to win a lot of the medals. Christopher has been through tough times but since the last transplant he has grown loads and is a lot better.

"He's done brilliantly and the atmosphere out here is fantastic, everyone is really friendly and cheering him on. It's fantastic for him."

Christopher was born with posterior urethral valves, a serious condition associated with kidney failure. When he was nine months old he had his right kidney removed and by the age of four he needed dialysis every night at home. He always loved swimming and even through his treatment he would swim 10 lengths.

He has had more than 20 operations and his body rejected a kidney transplant which took place in 2005. A second transplant, just two and a half years ago, gave him a new lease of life.

His mother said that even when he was feeling ill he always managed to bounce back with a determination to live life to the full.

The pair are making the most of being on the other side of the world and have visited Sydney and been whale watching.

The World Transplant Games is a nine-day event organised by Transplant Sport UK. It aims to show that people can lead a normal and active life after transplantation.

Lynne Holt, Team UK manager for Transplant Sport UK, said: "None of the transplant athletes would be here today without a life-saving transplant operation and their determination and zest for life is a true inspiration. They have already won the race to live, but celebrating being alive and winning a medal at this year's World Games is inspiration to us all

"The Transplant Games gives transplant athletes a chance to celebrate their second chance and thank the organ donors and their families. I see first hand, how desperately patients, babies to adults, and their families, wait for the phone to ring which may mean an offer of a life-saving transplant. I also see many of them die waiting for a donor organ. This is why I am passionate about the Transplant Games, which aims to promote not only the benefits of transplantation, but highlight the need for more people to sign on to the Organ Donor Register and to discuss their wishes with their families.

"There is no better proof than the Transplant Games of the power of the gift of life, which is why the Games must continue."